 Courtesy Grubb family |
Remember...Charles Henry Grubb
|
On October 6, 1929, in Bluefield, West Virginia, Virginia Mae and Roy Grubb gave birth to a beautiful and a very brave baby boy named Charles Henry Grubb. Charles' sisters and brothers were Jean, Anna, Mary, Glenda, Pete, Reynard, and Billy Jack.
Charles started school at War Eagle Elementary School in Mingo County. As soon he was old enough, he went into the army. Yet he wasn't happy to leave his daughter.
His rank was corporal, his service number was RAI5408619, and he was in the Korean War. Charles' unit was Company M, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He died when he was only 21, on December 1, 1950, at the Chosin [Chozan] Reservoir, in the Korean War, but unfortunately the cause of his death is unknown.
Korea is often referred to as "American's forgotten war" and also referred to as a "conflict." Although battles were fought, Congress never declared war. North Korea invaded South Korea in summer of 1950. American troops responded. One group was the 31st Infantry, which Charles was in. Of the 3,300 men in his unit who began the operation at the Chosin Reservoir, only 385 were unwounded. The survivors of the operation joined the Marine forces on the other side of the reservoir. Cpl. Grubb was one of those casualties.
So you should be grateful that your country fought for you and freedom, because if we didn't fight, we wouldn't be here today. Cpl. Grubb was originally listed as missing in action, but remains have been found and are being tested to see if they match DNA from his family members.
Corporal Grubb was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
 |
 |
 |
Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, and Korean Service Medal |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, U.N. Service Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge |
|||
Article prepared by Kadence Taylor, Nasiya Williams, and Jayden Derrick, Fourth Grade, Chamberlain Elementary School
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
